Purifi Class D: Junk?


So, from the previous thread about high-end class D the Purifi module was brought up. I decided to get a cheap example from VTV, a simple stereo unit with a single Purifi module and matching Hypex SMPS. Standard input buffer. I got it in yesterday. First impression wasn't what I was expecting: weak, congested dynamics is what stood out to me. I expected greater expression through my ProAc D30Rs. The other problems such as poor soundstage, thin / boring character, etc, I marked up to needing burn-in before evaluating. So it's been 24 hours, I would still expect to get at least the high control / damping of high end class D and dynamic power, but it's just not present.

Could it be an impedance mismatch? Other manufacturers selling the Purifi with their custom input buffers are reporting 47k Ohms. VTV doesn't say in the manual or on the site. I checked the Purifi data sheet which reports...2.2k Ohms on SE???? That can't be right?? That's absurdly low! Am I reading the right spec? My preamp has an output impedance of 230 Ohms. Can someone confirm that the stock Purifi has this ultra-low input impedance?
madavid0
As I said, the latest $16K Curl amp does not double nor is it state of the art.....it is very good.....but no $60K Gryphon or $110K Boulder. Jay listened to the JC1+s briefly and then they went on their way.....not competitive.

Of course quality matters. Behringer amps are just so so sonically. Nothing like a tweaked IceEdge or tweaked Purifi. Every single thing you do matters. Power output is only one of an infinite number of things that change sound.

A stock Hypex module (less than $150 each wholesale) plus linear power supply versus a $40K Gryphon. I hope the Gryphon would be better. As I said, the power output is only one factor in how something sounds. I made the IceEdge module sound way more dynamic sounding with my mods.....but there was no increase of current of voltage. Nothing is that simple.

I hope not one is claiming that a tweaked IceEdge or tweaked Purifi is state of the art.  Tweaked IceEdge was $2K....tweaked Purifi is $2.6K.  There will be and maybe there is better class D......and it will just keep getting better and better.  Those who have more money.....please read the reviews of the AGD GaN amps and the Merrill Class D GaN amps.....they are getting rave reviews.....and they start at $7500.  Can you afford that?......most cannot.  I bet the average money spent on a high end audiophile system is under $20 grand for everything.  All this talk about super expensive gear here is really out of place.  Remember, for less than $1000 delivered VTV stereo amp with the Purifi amp modules and the Purifi buffer board is yours......the same basic proto amp from Purifi was A/Bed with $40K Constellation amps and found to be as good.  The revolution has begun!
Nothing like a tweaked IceEdge or tweaked Purifi.
Save use all, looks like another one bringing out his new "tweaked" Class-D, probably has an orange fuse in it too

Can anyone save us us against boutique Class-D manufacturers using threads to promote their own yet to be released stuff onto the market.

BTW Those $300 3000w Behringers are ICE POWERED modules!!!!

Two problems Class-D have still.
The switching frequency, which is fixable with GaN technology the way only Technics so far have used it.
And the second, is current delivery, where wattage goes up almost doubling for each halving of impedance down to 2ohms or even less.
Take it up with the likes of D’Agostino, Curl, ect ect manufacturers of the greatest amps that are recognized as being able to drive speakers with loadings that make Class-D’s run for the hills, they will tell you the same thing.
Actually they won't. They will all tell you the same thing- the limit of any solid state amp, class D or no, will be current the output section can withstand, the ability of the heatsinks to adequately cool the devices and how much current is available from the power supply.

I will note one thing though- I've seen a number of SMPSs (Switch Mode Power Supplies) used in class D amps. I think its a bad practice. They work, sort of; the problem is that class D amps go from almost no current draw at idle to quite a lot at full power. SMPSs don't have a lot of capacitance at their output and so can be drained faster than they can replenish. A lot of them will shut down if you put a lot of capacitance at their output. So if you're not running an amp with a regular power transformer and a lot of capacitance available for the class D amp to feed on, you're probably not hearing what it can do.


Actually they won't. They will all tell you the same thing

Yeah, get them to confirm that big furphy
Can anyone save us from Georges constant negativity?

I own one of those Behringer amps.....there is nothing in there that resembles anything made by IcePower.  Even if it is a custom IcePower it is junk.  i don't even like it that much on woofers....and I modded it.